More than half a century has passed since the world saw the first UAZ-452, popularly known as the "Loaf". The car received such a funny nickname for its uncomplicated shape, reminiscent of a loaf of bread. The “Loaf” owes its longevity to its all-passability - the minibus is equipped with all-wheel drive. There are still more directions than roads in the post-Soviet space. The UAZ is also incredibly maintainable - it can be repaired in the event of a breakdown even in the most remote village.

How to choose the right tire option

First of all, the owner should decide in what conditions the car will be used. UAZ "Bukhanka" was developed as a multipurpose vehicle. Even in the factory versions, there are more than a dozen of both cargo and passenger modifications.

UAZ "Loaf"

If the car will run on normal or country roads most of the time, and serious off-road conditions will only dream, then a lot of alternative options are provided on the market with a native size. A wide price range will allow you to choose tires for every taste. Starting from budget domestic producers and ending with expensive imported ones.

Note!

The original size for the "Loaf" is already positioned as tires for SUVs.

It is worth understanding the labeling of such tires. Typically, manufacturers label as follows:

• HT - half terrain or highway terrain. Such markings indicate that the tire is intended to be used more on asphalt and dirt roads. On the off-road, you shouldn't rely on them.
• AT - all terrain tires can already be used on light off-road. Asphalt and dirt roads are a native element for them, but if you go somewhere deeper, then such tires will cope with many tasks.
• MT - mud terrain. They feature a powerful and aggressive tread pattern that allows you to move where conventional rubber has long given up. They will be noisy on pavement, may be difficult to handle and have increased wear.

The most unpretentious tires on the UAZ "Bukhanka" - "Kama-219" with the dimension 225/75 R16 are installed on modern modifications from the factory. These are all-season tires, which, according to the owners, do not differ in positive qualities. And if you drive off the road or wait for winter, you will immediately want to pick up tires for the "Loaf", corresponding to the operating conditions.

Earlier editions of the "Loaf" were equipped with rubber dimension 215/90 R15.

On a note!

At present, UAZ Bukhanka is especially popular among hunters, fishermen, and collectors of forest gifts. All thanks to the high capacity and cross-country ability. Such users will definitely want to use the off-road capabilities of UAZ to the maximum. In this case, the choice of rubber comes down to mud.

If you do not have high requirements for cross-country ability, then off-road tires on UAZ "Bukhanka" can be supplied in their original size. It will be possible to drive them much further than on a standard all-season, but for more difficult driving conditions, you will have to ask yourself about installing more serious wheels.

Mud rubber installation in its original size will not require additional modifications to the body and suspension, but it will significantly increase the "Loaf" passability. Among the domestic budget options, it is worth noting Cordiant Off Road and Contyre Expedition. It is easy to confuse them by the tread pattern. According to the owners, "Contyre" is softer and lighter, but its physical size is slightly smaller than that of "Kordiant" rubber. At this size, it is not critical to lose half a centimeter of ground clearance, but the gain in comfort will be noticeable.

More economical options for diameter 15 - "Omskshina" Ya-192 and Ya-245. Among the "Bukhankovodov" they acquired the status of classics. Off-road permeability is high, it rakes well in mud. Often these models are purchased for further slicing.

When the blocks are cut correctly, an ultra economical extreme tire comes out. For craftsmen and lovers of experimentation - the perfect choice.

Often on the "Loaf" they put rubber 33 and 35 inches. Large mud tires on the "Loaf" confronts the owner with one problem. In order for the installation of such wheels to go without problems and further operation did not cause any difficulties, you need to either raise the body above the frame (make an elevator), or cut and weld new arches.

The “Loaf” elevator for 33 wheels is needed in order not to radically change the body structure by cutting and welding new elements. You can carry out the lifting process with your own hands by installing spacers between the body and the frame. On sale there are spacers made of plastic, rubber and metal. You can find them in any car market or in specialized shops for UAZ. From the tool, you will need a regular jack and a set of keys to carry out the alteration. The procedure is simple, but it can take a long time.

It is worth remembering that the body lift is fraught with deterioration in handling. Also, the center of gravity of the car rises, and this threatens to reduce safety in turns or rolls.

Therefore, a safer modification of the body so that the loaf travels on large wheels is the alteration of the wheel arches. This is a costly option, but does not in any way impair driving performance, which is very important off-road.

In some cases, you can't do without an elevator - you have to cut and lift.

The wear of off-road tires is a sore subject for motorists. In addition to uneven wear, you can often find sidewall damage - sharp stones in the mountains, sticking out branches in the forest. There is danger everywhere. And when driving on asphalt, it wears out very quickly.

On long journeys, owners often face problems with uneven tire wear. Unpleasant incidents can be the reason. For example, when hitting, wheel alignment can fly off.

Off-road wheels are difficult to balance, especially not new ones. All this can ruin a tire even in one trip. At best, it will be possible to extend her life as a spare tire.

With proper car care, you can avoid if not all, then many cases in which uneven or premature wear of expensive tires occurs.

The UAZ car has established itself as a reliable, highly passable and budget option. All UAZ models are quite spacious, but the manufacturers considered that this was not enough and designed a model with an increased capacity - the UAZ-452 "Loaf".

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In addition to the cargo, it can accommodate 5 people. To withstand the expected load, this vehicle is equipped with powerful and reliable tires. Despite the fact that the car is of domestic production, rubber for it is most often purchased imported.

It should be noted right away that the UAZ-452 is equipped by the manufacturer with 15 or 16-inch wheels. The factory recommends to install tires of the following sizes on the "Loaf": 225/75 / R16 or 235/74 / R15.

Since the car itself is very popular and is used for different tasks and in different conditions, the choice of tires for it is huge. On the modern market, there is a wide selection of not only domestic products, but also imported rubber for UAZ-452.

What non-standard dimensions can be installed

Due to the variety of tire choices in the automotive markets and the popularity of standard tires for UAZ Bukhanka, there is no need to install large wheels, for example, 17 or 18 radius.

Moreover, without changing the height of the suspension, this type cannot be installed. Therefore, as a rule, the tire size recommended by the manufacturer is used.

I must say that some craftsmen still replace wheels of 15 or 16 radius with a larger size. However, this cannot be done without modernizing the wheel arches, since otherwise the wheels will touch the body at the slightest unevenness of the road surface.

To unleash the full potential of this vehicle, you should select the correct tire sizes and maintain the tire manufacturer's recommended pressure.

The tire pressure on the UAZ-452 should be no more than 2.5 atm. For the front wheels, the pressure reading should be slightly lower than for the rear.

The table shows the pressure values \u200b\u200bfor the front and rear wheels.

The best winter tires for UAZ "Bukhanka"

Winter tires are studded and non-studded (Velcro). When choosing one or another model, some factors should be taken into account: the area of \u200b\u200buse, the presence of bad or good roads on which to move. Competent choice will allow you to balance the car, adjust handling at a particular speed.

• Cordiant Winter Drive - R16 price range 4000-4200 rubles. This studded rubber of European production is an economical and quite worthy option for this car.

• Matador MP30 Sibir Ice 2 - winter tires for UAZ "Bukhanka" are provided by the Matador brand. These tires have a reinforced carcass and sidewalls, as well as increased tread blocks, which allows them to effectively hold the road on a snowy road.
  Differs in better flotation and control due to aluminum carbide tips. Perfectly holds the car on sharp turns during icy conditions. Price - 6,500 rubles.
• Omskshina Ya-192 - tires are classics of a domestic manufacturer. This option is more suitable for driving in the autumn or spring period, although it is positioned as a winter one.
  For a not frosty, but snowy period, an excellent option, due to the aggressive tread of the tires during braking, the risk of skidding and the braking distance is reduced to a minimum. The price of the tire ranges from 3000 to 3500 rubles.

• Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic - the price is 9,000 rubles. Studded rubber, great for colder and snowy regions.

• Michelin X-Ice 3 - the cost starts at 3700 rubles. This rubber is studless, but this does not affect the handling and stability on any road surface, regardless of the degree of moisture in the asphalt. The rubber itself is very light, as it consists of a mixture of rubber, due to which fuel consumption when moving is reduced.

The best summer (mud) tires for UAZ "Bukhanka"

In most cases, for the UAZ-452, the owners prefer the choice not of summer tires, but of mud or all-season tires, for moving not only along a simple track, but also through mud and sand.

• The BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T / A KM3 is by far one of the best mud tires available. The price is quite high, but the quality matches that. For 2019, the cost is 13,000 rubles. A rather rare feature for this type of tire is its low noise level. Demonstrates excellent handling when driving at higher speeds. The wheels are also characterized by increased wear resistance, which justifies the high cost.
• Michelin Latitude Cross - this type of tire is entrenched between premium and mid-price parameters. Rubber 225/75 R16 108N8500 costs about 7800 rubles on average. The tires are not fast, but for this car this is a minor point.
  Stable on any type of road surface, regardless of weather conditions. The tread pattern assumes a long service life without compromising performance.
• Nokian Rockproof - the average price is 8000-8200 rubles. Tough, durable, the tread is designed for travel in places where there are no roads. The tread is adapted for movement on water. Special stone repellents are built into the tires.

• Kumho Road Venture - imported tires at an affordable price. The average cost is 5500-6000 rubles. Very soft ride, excellent handling at high speed. The tires allow you to steadily and unhindered pass even the most difficult grooves.

• Bridgestone Dueler is a fairly economical model for a leader in this industry, the price starts from 7,000 rubles. This rubber does not have advantages and increased advantages, but there are no complaints about it either. This model was created using the latest technology, taking into account all the required operational parameters.

Summing up, it should be said that the UAZ-452 "Loaf" is an excellent option for those who like hunting and fishing, a great companion on a journey through roadless places. The car can be successfully upgraded externally and technically.

The body is somewhat reminiscent of a "minivan", and not an off-road car, but this does not prevent it from overcoming difficult road obstacles. This car is durable, because it is not for nothing that the equipment and appearance have practically not changed since the beginning of its production.

UAZ Bukhanka (UAZ-452/2206/3741/3909/3962) is a truly legendary car. Produced at the Ulyanovsk plant since 1965, it has not lost its popularity today. The car combines such qualities as increased cross-country ability and excellent spaciousness, which makes it indispensable for traveling, hunting, fishing in off-road conditions.

But the car really reveals its advantages after various modifications that allow expanding the range of its capabilities: self-blocks that improve off-road movement, springs and elongated shock absorbers that make the car's suspension softer, off-road tires with disks that increase the vehicle's cross-country ability, body lift, winches, bumpers, etc. All these modifications make it possible to make a prepared off-road SUV out of an ordinary UAZ.

But no matter what tuning was installed on the UAZ 452, it is necessary, first of all, to very carefully approach the choice of wheels. If you have decided on the size of tires, it's time to start selecting wheels. Every motorist knows that very important indicators of an SUV depend on the correct choice of wheel disks:

Traffic safety;

The ability to freely overcome rough terrain and off-road.

The best choice is steel off-road wheels for UAZ Loaf. They are great for riding in the most extreme conditions: when hitting various obstacles, they deform only at the point of contact. This damage is easily repaired by balancing or rolling the disc, which cannot be said, for example, with alloy wheels.

Today, Off Road Wheels steel rims for UAZ Bukhanka are produced in various sizes, for any tires, with positive and negative offset. They are made from two stamped solid steel sheets that are welded together.

Before purchasing wheel disks, you can pre-compare in our calculator the compatibility of all characteristics with the parameters of rubber, technical features of the body, chassis. The possible behavior of your UAZ Loaf on off-road routes will depend on the observance of all these nuances.

We divide the choice of disks into two parts:

1. If you plan to use disc brakes, then buy 16 "or 17" ORW discs at UAZ Loaf, suitable for bolt pattern (5x139.7).

2. If you do not plan to put on disc brakes, then in addition to the discs described above, it is possible to install ODS discs of 15 diameter.

Their main advantage is that Off Road Wheels are stronger and more reliable than standard regular ones.

Today, many car owners tune the UAZ Loaf.

One of the first problems is replacing standard, narrow 215/90/15 wheels with wide off-road tires, which will significantly increase cross-country ability. To do this, it is necessary to replace the factory stamped wheels with off-road wheels. Discs are selected depending on the rubber:

30 Inch.

Wheels 30x9.5x15 are installed on the car without modifications. Recommended drives:

To install wheels 31 inches (265x70x16) you need to play with the parameters. We recommend metal discs for UAZ Loaf with negative overhang:

32-33 Inch.

The next stage of the 32-33-inch wheel involves the refinement of the car's suspension, body lift, the installation of arch extensions, and spring-loaded spacers, trimming of the arches. The classic size, which many Bukhankovodov strive for is 33x10.5 (285x75x16).

Humanity, in search of an ideal, has been looking for many years, and continues to search for a car that would meet the following conditions:

• Increased cross-country ability when traveling on roads of poor quality or in their absence.
• Low price.

And if the first condition is met by many modern car models: jeeps, crossovers, then the fulfillment of the second condition is unrealistic. The fact is that the high cross-country ability of the car is provided by a number of parameters. Among them:

• Overall parameters: ground clearance, hanging angle, static stability angle, cross-country angle.
• Traction - drive type, power density, thrust-to-weight ratio
• Support-couplings - specific pressure on the soil, type of suspension, coefficient of adhesion of tires.

Only large automobile concerns Toyota, Mercedes, Chevrolet can “pull” the creation of a high-quality SUV. Prices for SUV models from these manufacturers are high. Therefore, the views of ordinary motorists often turn to the East - to Russia, where “there are no roads, but directions”. In this regard, the creation of our own economical car model capable of driving on any surface became mandatory 60 years ago with the conquest of the taiga and tundra.

In those years, a number of off-road vehicles were created by Soviet car manufacturers. The most popular and favorite among drivers was a series of off-road vehicles produced at the UAZ plant - UAZ-450 and the successor to UAZ-452. The popularity is evidenced by the fact that its everyday name - "loaf", given by the engineers of the plant because of the characteristic shape of the car, has taken root among the people.

UAZ "loaf" is known to any inhabitant of the former USSR.

The history of the "loaf" and its benefits

The 60th anniversary of this "people's" car was widely celebrated last year. Few people know that the first "loaves" were representatives of another UAZ family - UAZ-450, produced before 1965. In 1966, changes were made and the updated UAZ was assigned a new index - 452. For more than 50 years, the outlines of the model's body have remained unchanged. By the way, the onboard modification of the UAZ-452 is called the "tadpole".

The design and level of comfort in this UAZ model are Spartan, but the car is not designed for comfort. But in other respects, this is a unique car that combines the size and price of an economy-class passenger car, the capacity of the cargo part, which will give a head start to the truck, and the UAZ-452's cross-country ability is such that residents of many remote and hard-to-reach areas, foresters, fishermen, hunters are ready to pray for "Loaf".

Tires for UAZ "loaf"

Car enthusiasts who purchase the UAZ-452 model, as well as the upgraded modifications -33741 and -33909, make this choice because of their spaciousness, reliability and cross-country ability. This is a utility vehicle that, in addition to cargo, can accommodate 5 people. The tires on the UAZ "loaf" must be powerful and reliable to cope with both the load in the cabin and with different types of coverage. Automotive tires are of the following types:

• Summer
• Winter
• Versatile or all-season

Each of them has pros and cons. All-season tires are inexpensive and quiet. At the same time, it wears out quickly, is not suitable for driving on ice, does not allow gaining high speed, and does not withstand sudden temperature changes. Winter tires can be studded and without studs. Friction tires are suitable for the city. It has excellent grip without sacrificing speed. It makes sense to install a studded one in the northern regions, starting from the Moscow region and to the east, where the winters are snowy, and the roads are usually not very clear.

The versatility of the "loaf" is emphasized by the fact that any type of off-road rubber is suitable for it:

• Standard off-road for optimum traction on all road surfaces. The disadvantage is that it is very noisy.
• Mud - you can comfortably drive through mud or very swampy areas. At the same time, the car loses control over a rolled or smooth surface.
• Extreme - you can drive along the most difficult sections of the road. The disadvantages of this type are extremely low speed and lack of controllability when picking up speed

UAZ-452 leaves the factory, equipped with wheels on disks, the diameter of which is from 29 to 33 inches, and rubber in two versions:

• 225/75 R16.
• 235/74 R15 - on some models
• Razboltovaya discs - 5 * 139.7.

What non-standard sizes can be supplied

The larger version for the R17 disc on factory cars in the standard configuration did not become popular due to the fact that rubber of this diameter, without changing the suspension height, touches the wheel arches. Since today there is a very large selection of tires of regular sizes, the practice of using non-standard tires has not become widespread.

Another issue is the modification of your car, in particular, raising the suspension to a given height. The changes will affect the transmission and body of the car, but will allow equipping it with tires even 37-39 inches high, which will significantly increase the cross-country ability of the “loaf”.

The tire pressure indicator is important because it determines how your UAZ will behave while driving. Affects handling, softness, grip, fuel consumption. Here is a table of pressure depending on the size of the tread and the width of the disc:

It shows that the optimal tire pressure on the UAZ "loaf" is 1.7-1.9 kgf / cm2 for the front ones, 2.2-2.4 for the rear ones. If a softer stroke is desired, the pressure should be slightly reduced. It is checked as follows:

• After removing the cap, connect the pressure measuring device - "manometer"
• Look at the readings
• If the pressure is less than required, pump up
• If more, decrease the pressure slightly by pressing on a specific part of the pressure gauge.

Review of the best summer and winter tires

Choosing the best tires for the UAZ "loaf" becomes a difficult task. Today manufacturers offer dozens of variants of "domestic" and imported rubber. Here is a table of "Russian" tires for various UAZ models:

Top 5 summer and winter tire options for your UAZ

Winter tires

When choosing such a rubber, one should start from the areas where the car is used and the presence of good roads. The versatility of tires, their weight and noise, the handling of the car when using them, speed, balance are important. Out of a sense of patriotism, we added two Russian models to the list. Considering that winter tires can be studded and non-studded, we expanded it to 6 positions:

• Omskshina Ya-192 is a classic of the domestic tire industry. An inexpensive option for driving in the autumn-spring period through mud and mud. Aggressive tread reduces braking distance to a minimum. According to reviews, it is less controllable on snow or ice. The cost of one tire is from 3000 rubles.
• Cordiant Winter Drive is an economical variant of non-studded winter tires of European quality. The price for the R16 is 4000 rubles.
• Studded tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 for 14,000 rubles - Finnish manufacturers have taken care of cross-country ability, handling and durability. Perhaps the best option among European counterparts.
• Non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 for 10,000 rubles.
• Studded Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic - about 9 thousand rubles. Ideal for regions where winters are coldest.

• Non-studded Michelin X-Ice 3 is a lightweight tire thanks to its special rubber blend. Low fuel consumption, good stability and controllability even at high speed

Summer tires

The choice of summer tires depends on the goals of the car owner. Special tires are required for driving on mud, sand or extreme trails. The best mud tires in our opinion are:

• The BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T / A KM3 is by far the best mud tire. The steering wheel obeys perfectly and is very sensitive, rare noiselessness when driving at high speed, durability. The price is high - about 13,000 rubles, but the advantages of these tires more than cover the costs of them.

• Nokian Rockproof is a model just for cases with "directions". High-strength, tough, built-in protectors of stones. If you are going to an area with no roads at all, this is a good option. Economical - 8,000 rubles.
• Kumho Road Venture is one of the cheapest foreign models. Price - from 6000 rubles. For little money - high cross-country ability, smooth ride, handling at high speed on a smooth road.
• Bridgestone Dueler is an economical model from the leader of the tire industry for 7000 r. The manufacturer used the latest technology to create these tires. There are no particular advantages, but also disadvantages.
• I-471 is a good local analogue for 3000 rubles. Differs in water passability due to grooves on the tread that drain moisture, and convenience when driving on the track.

Mud rubber

Created on the basis of an off-road vehicle, a car with a minibus body UAZ-3962 (3309), in colloquial terms - UAZ loaf, has received the widest distribution. Despite the unprepossessing appearance and technically outdated design, due to its high cross-country ability and reliability, the machine is used as a workhorse and is currently being produced. Ambulance service, Emergency Situations Ministry teams in forestry and agriculture - all this applies to this car.

Taking into account difficult conditions, increased requirements are imposed in those conditions when tires are selected for a UAZ loaf. The conditions when the machine mainly works on urban paved roads differ significantly from the conditions of rural off-road. In addition, rural roads vary significantly with the seasons.

Wheel size for UAZ

The standard rubber on the UAZ loaf is installed with the following size: 225/75 R16, and in some periods the car was equipped with 235/74 R15 tires. In any case, it must be borne in mind that the staging diameter of the disc should be within the range of 29-33 inches. This dimension does not lead to additional changes in the vehicle design. Additionally, the steel disc must meet the 5 × 139.7 mounting size requirements.

There are cases when tires were used on a wheel size R17, but with a very low profile tire. However, due to the large selection of standard rubber of any model, this practice has not become widespread.

In the event of an overload of the car or at the maximum suspension travel, even with a normal tire dimension, the rubber touched the wheel arches. This situation is not critical and there is no serious destructive effect on rubber.

Winter tires

Taking into account the prevalence of the car and the most varied operating conditions, a wide variety of tires are provided for installation on a UAZ loaf. The market presents not only the categories of domestic, but also imported rubber for UAZ. There are 3 main categories:

• universal;
• mud;
• winter;

But any owner should choose for further use exactly the model that suits the performance of specific tasks. Since it is hardly possible to have fun driving around on noisy mud tires, while at the same time with a significantly increased gas mileage.

Line of domestic tires

Among the domestic options for rubber, the following brands are considered mass models.

Best station wagons

Universal tires for UAZ:

1. Bel-24 235/75 R15. The Belarusian analogue has good average characteristics for all indicators, fully justifying the purpose of the tire as a universal one. High wear resistance is noted, and operating experience allows us to speak of a resource of 60 thousand km.
2. "I-502" has a size of 225/85 R15. The lifting capacity is 950 kg, and the maximum speed is 150 km / h.
3. "Ya560" allows a maximum speed of 180 km / h.
4. "I-357A". This is a radial version of the above mentioned rubber, which is characterized by better speed and is capable of carrying a large permissible load up to 1060 kgf. This type of tire is somewhat softer and, with a similar pattern, tolerates movement on soggy mud much better. Good directional stability on the road can also be noted.
5. "Ya245" and "Ya245-1" has a size of 215/90 R15. This tire brand has a low maximum speed of 110 km / h and a relatively low weight of 775 kgf.

Rubber for use on mud

Among the requirements that can be set when choosing a rubber for use on bad roads are:

• developed lugs;
• weight not exceeding the permissible value for the car;
• permissible width is no more than 250 mm;
• affordable price;
• tire sidewalls resistant to external influences.

1. "I-502". It has a number of advantages: low noise level, good maneuverability on any road and low rolling resistance under good road conditions. This model copes well with resistance to mechanical damage.
2. "I-506". It has good resistance to longitudinal displacement and excellent directional stability. It has a low noise level, and additionally allows the screwing of studs for the winter. The only gripe is some wheel stiffness.
3. "I-520". Another worthy representative of rubber for UAZ. This tubeless model allows the car to hold the road with confidence and handle in various conditions. The rubber noise does not exceed the transmission sounds. This tire has good self-cleaning properties, which is important enough for an off-road tire. It is noteworthy that it is easy to find snow chains for this model.
4. A relatively new model was the Y471 model. The tire provides a smooth ride, slightly swallowing minor irregularities. Good directional stability and low noise level are provided. Decently behaves not only on muddy roads, but also in the sand. Remarks on this model include difficult balance.
5. An excellent rubber for bad roads is the Y192 tire. This is one of the best mud tires. However, the model is somewhat noisy on asphalt and does not differ in smooth running.
6. "Ya409". This rubber for UAZ is suitable for use at any time of the year. The model copes well with mud, but also feels comfortable on snowy roads. The performance on clean ice is slightly worse, but the car can be handled while driving.
7. Model "Ya358" is designed primarily for installation on the front driving axle. This bias tire is not very fast. But it does an excellent job on difficult roads, with the exception of swampy areas, where it is capable of self-burying.